A rant about my neighbor! - Atheist Nexus2018-05-24T18:07:03Zhttp://atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/a-rant-about-my-neighbor?id=2182797%3ATopic%3A2245535&feed=yes&xn_auth=no"These people exist as pimple…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-09:2182797:Comment:22473872013-06-09T15:18:14.349ZThe Flying Atheisthttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/TheFlyingAtheist
<p><em>"These people exist as pimples on the ass of progress."</em></p>
<p>What a great way to start my day....with my coffee and a hearty laugh. Thanks Joan. </p>
<p><em>"These people exist as pimples on the ass of progress."</em></p>
<p>What a great way to start my day....with my coffee and a hearty laugh. Thanks Joan. </p> Randall, you wrote, ""I serio…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-09:2182797:Comment:22475372013-06-09T14:39:59.733ZJoan Denoohttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>Randall, you wrote, ""I seriously can't stand the majority of people in the world". I'm glad to hear someone else feels the same way as I do! Little wonder I isolate myself from society."<br></br> I agree, some people live so filled with anger, fear, sorrow, guilt, shame, judgement, or just plain meanness that they infect others as they journey through life. These people exist as pimples on the ass of progress. <br></br> On the other hand, some people love themselves and rejoice in their lives. They…</p>
<p>Randall, you wrote, ""I seriously can't stand the majority of people in the world". I'm glad to hear someone else feels the same way as I do! Little wonder I isolate myself from society."<br/> I agree, some people live so filled with anger, fear, sorrow, guilt, shame, judgement, or just plain meanness that they infect others as they journey through life. These people exist as pimples on the ass of progress. <br/>
On the other hand, some people love themselves and rejoice in their lives. They exhibit a sense of care and compassion other as well as themselves. They work hard at things that suit their personalities, liking what they do and the results they derive from it. Some contribute as a member of a team, whether it is marriage and family life, or in their work lives. They feel they belong to a community and participate in community life, always building up others and inspiring flourishing. These kinds of people sit at my table discussing and debating issues of importance to them, giving strong voice to their position even as they listen to other, sometimes conflicting points of view. <br/>
Contemplate on life this way, Randall, the universe is 13.77 billion years old; Earth is 4.54 billion years; Homo sapiens sapiens walked on the Earth for about 200,000 years; these numbers change as new evidence appears. How many years have you walked on this Earth? What kind of walk has your life been? How is it now?</p>
<p>Please allow a little old lady to describe life as she sees it. I have this very tiny bit of time to be alive. I had better make sure I live it the fullest way possible. The entire universe is mine for the seeing, the Earth offers all kinds of pleasures for each one of my senses, and I intend to engage them. There are stupid, mean spirited people who share this time with me, and I have no intention of letting them intrude upon my space and time. <br/> Some of those people deserve to be challenged; I have the interest to do the challenging. <br/>
My grandmothers and mother lived in different eras than I and had few options. They chose to learn how to try to survive brutish husbands. I chose differently and am eternally grateful.<br/>
Now, as to living in the here and now ... it is prudent to remember the past with clarity and honesty, imagine a preferred future and work to bring that about. My vision includes creating a healthy, happy, functioning support system while building the kind of environment where I and others can flourish to each one's full capacities. I am not afraid of work and am intolerant of intolerable behaviors. <br/>
I'll be out in this beautiful day doing what I love the most and know you are in your patch of Earth doing what you love most. You and I, happy, content, inspiring, caring, compassionate, having a good day.</p> You yes! I recognize the expe…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-09:2182797:Comment:22474702013-06-09T14:00:36.175ZJoan Denoohttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>You yes! I recognize the experience. Time to build walls, not bridges!</p>
<p></p>
<p>You yes! I recognize the experience. Time to build walls, not bridges!</p>
<p></p> "I seriously can't stand the…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-09:2182797:Comment:22474612013-06-09T12:25:09.969ZRandall Smithhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/RandallSmith289
<p>"I seriously can't stand the majority of people in the world". I'm glad to hear someone else feels the same way as I do! Little wonder I isolate myself from society.</p>
<p>"I seriously can't stand the majority of people in the world". I'm glad to hear someone else feels the same way as I do! Little wonder I isolate myself from society.</p> There are some people in this…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-07:2182797:Comment:22467792013-06-07T23:27:13.074ZThe Flying Atheisthttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/TheFlyingAtheist
<p>There are some people in this world who just aren't worth the time and effort, and this neighbor sounds like one of them. Consider your short, frustrating encounter with this person a much better deal than spending an entire evening visiting with her in your backyard for a BBQ. You were the better person and asked about the health of her granddaughter, yet she took that same opportunity to go on a political rant. Well.....lesson learned. Next time all she gets is a neighborly smile and…</p>
<p>There are some people in this world who just aren't worth the time and effort, and this neighbor sounds like one of them. Consider your short, frustrating encounter with this person a much better deal than spending an entire evening visiting with her in your backyard for a BBQ. You were the better person and asked about the health of her granddaughter, yet she took that same opportunity to go on a political rant. Well.....lesson learned. Next time all she gets is a neighborly smile and waive. No conversation necessary. Your blood pressure will appreciate it. Believe me, I know. </p> James Kz, what a perfect pair…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-07:2182797:Comment:22467632013-06-07T21:28:24.136ZJoan Denoohttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>James Kz, what a perfect pair of different kinds of "helpers". Love the way you wrote about it and your statement, "By their fruits ye shall know them indeed."<br/> I am very sorry to learn of your health challenges. Hopefully, you will have help, at least until your surgery heals.</p>
<p>James Kz, what a perfect pair of different kinds of "helpers". Love the way you wrote about it and your statement, "By their fruits ye shall know them indeed."<br/> I am very sorry to learn of your health challenges. Hopefully, you will have help, at least until your surgery heals.</p> Dennis, agreed! If the facts…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-07:2182797:Comment:22467112013-06-07T21:09:59.914ZJoan Denoohttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>Dennis, agreed! If the facts be known, he doesn't have to be dead to be freed. The freeing occurs here and now or not at all. Well, belief is a tough little rascal with which to deal. . How did you come to terms with the soul delusion? My struggle wasn't my soul, it was a delusion of loss of my community. </p>
<p>The fact was, my community supported delusions and inhibited my healthy development. </p>
<p>Dennis, agreed! If the facts be known, he doesn't have to be dead to be freed. The freeing occurs here and now or not at all. Well, belief is a tough little rascal with which to deal. . How did you come to terms with the soul delusion? My struggle wasn't my soul, it was a delusion of loss of my community. </p>
<p>The fact was, my community supported delusions and inhibited my healthy development. </p> So, a little sarcasm may be c…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-07:2182797:Comment:22469312013-06-07T21:01:28.514ZJoan Denoohttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>So, a little sarcasm may be called for. Yes, definitely use the facts about Obamacare, good and bad, and let her know you are informed. You don't need her instructions. The fact is, you disagree on the principles and I would ask her to justify her principles. </p>
<p>So, a little sarcasm may be called for. Yes, definitely use the facts about Obamacare, good and bad, and let her know you are informed. You don't need her instructions. The fact is, you disagree on the principles and I would ask her to justify her principles. </p> Yesterday, whilst I was out i…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-07:2182797:Comment:22467082013-06-07T21:00:12.268ZJames Kzhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JamesKz
<p>Yesterday, whilst I was out in my back yard with my hand and arm in a splint trying to mow (and failing and in pain) my yard and shovel manure on my peppers, an out-of-the-village couple parked behind my Smart car.</p>
<p>After some small talk about my new car (they'd never seen one), they went into evangelising mode.</p>
<p>Apparently having pumped someone from the village for information about me, they knew I am an atheist, and that I have epilepsy (neither of which is knowable by…</p>
<p>Yesterday, whilst I was out in my back yard with my hand and arm in a splint trying to mow (and failing and in pain) my yard and shovel manure on my peppers, an out-of-the-village couple parked behind my Smart car.</p>
<p>After some small talk about my new car (they'd never seen one), they went into evangelising mode.</p>
<p>Apparently having pumped someone from the village for information about me, they knew I am an atheist, and that I have epilepsy (neither of which is knowable by observing me, but my hand in a splint sure was). They suggested I needed to accept Jesus into my heart to "cast out the demons causing my epilepsy and atheism."</p>
<p>I posited that it seems much more likely that my anticonvulsant Phenobarbital works better to suppress seizures than any amount of prayer, and would you kindly allow me to go back to my yardwork? (The village party/parade is next week and it would look bad if a city councilman had a yard that didn't look like it had been mowed since May 1 - the day of my surgery).</p>
<p>About that time, with them still ranting, the village maintenance mechanic (the other atheist in town besides my wife) drove by, flipped around, and offered to mow my lawn. When she was finished, she refused any sort of payment.</p>
<p>By their fruits ye shall know them indeed.</p>
<p>As for your neighbour, you might note that we would not now have the GAO list of hospital costs and how widely they vary. That was one of the requirements of the ACA.</p>
<p>As for staying away, that mightn't necessarily be a good idea. Knowing what they are up to can be a life-saving defence.</p> Oh boy, I think I will do an…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-07:2182797:Comment:22469302013-06-07T20:49:05.446ZJoan Denoohttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>Oh boy, I think I will do an options exploration on this, if you don't mind: <br></br> 1. Call her names, tell her exactly what you think of her, let her know, in clear terms, how judgmental you think she is. <br></br> 2. Express your disgust, dismay, rejection of her beliefs, why you refute her beliefs and be clear about the superstitions, Stone Age philosophy, and the sheep herder warlords who wrote what is now the bible. <br></br>
3. Describe to her how little effectiveness you see in god's…</p>
<p>Oh boy, I think I will do an options exploration on this, if you don't mind: <br/> 1. Call her names, tell her exactly what you think of her, let her know, in clear terms, how judgmental you think she is. <br/>
2. Express your disgust, dismay, rejection of her beliefs, why you refute her beliefs and be clear about the superstitions, Stone Age philosophy, and the sheep herder warlords who wrote what is now the bible. <br/>
3. Describe to her how little effectiveness you see in god's interventions, how many people suffer and die under the yoke of Abrahamic faiths, what cruel fates women suffer because of the hatred of women. Religion sees two kinds of women, Eva and the harlot. Real women are neither. <br/>
4. A family or community who follows the principles of the faithful have permission to own slaves, to mistreat them, to beat wives and children, even expect men to control women and children, even if it means criminal assaults. Some even put trust into their religion when medicine is needed, even for their small children who are helpless in their parent's ignorance. Scaring children with fabrications of hell and eternal damnation should be charged with child abuse and held accountable for their children's fears and nightmares. <br/>
5. Telling people that homosexuality is as curable as indigestion reveals such profound ignorance it is hard for me to stay rational. Using lies about skin color, gender, sexual orientation, family violence all present indicaters that one does not use their natural thinking processes. They use propaganda to indoctrinate others even in the face of evidence to the contrary. <br/>
6. Claiming to love everyone is the biggest lie of all. There is no love in racism, sexism, homophobia, or blaming people for their misfortune, or looking down on the poor by giving them crumbs off their abundant table, thinking they are helping. Well, it is not so. When people live under tyranny and suffer displacement, or denial of their humanity, and to not address the structural problems directly, and instead they use the claim to pray, They do not get the full picture of how and why the people became decimated. The very act of feeding crumbs is a palliative for their own undeserved wealth. <br/>
7. <br/>
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9.</p>